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West Coast - Pilotage Information
West Coast ports have pilotage regulations to consider. Pilotage and waiver / exemption applicability is tied to operational characteristics such as local experience and licensing of Captain and crew, flag type, tonnage, length over all and registry type.
San Diego
- Vessels over 300 gt are required to engage in pilotage
- Exemption can be obtained in advance
Long Beach Pilots
- Vessels over 300 gt are required to engage in pilotage
- No formal exemption
Los Angeles Pilots
- Vessels over 300 gt are required to engage in pilotage
- No formal exemption
San Francisco / Monterey
- Vessels over 300 gt are required to engage in pilotage
- No formal exemption
Puget Sound
- Foreign flagged vessels less than 500 tons AND less than 200 feet LOA are eligible to apply for exemption
- Otherwise, pilotage is mandatory
British Columbia
- Vessels over 500 gt are required to engage in pilotage
- This tonnage limit was raised to 500 gt from 350 gt in January of 2010
- Pilotage waiver is available in advance
Alaska
- Foreign flagged vessels 175 feet in length over all and larger are required to engage in pilotage during all underway time
- USA registered yachts are exempt from pilotage
- Foreign flagged vessels less than 175 length overall are eligible to apply for exemption in advance
- Exemption and pilotage must be arranged by an Agent registered with the state of Alaska

For San Francisco, tonnage at which mandatory pilotage starts has been raised to 750 gt from 300 gt.
This is really great news for the West Coast and good timing for the increase in traffic expected in 2012 and 2012 for AC34.

Innes Navigation Services supplies Captains and Deck Officers that have been pre-approved by the pilotage authority to navigate vessels in BC waters. Using one of our Transport Canada Certified Captains or Deck Officers can save you considerable money on the pilotage fees and keep your family safe at sea. Perhaps you could have your vacation after all!!
Please check us out at www.bccaptainforhire.com
We would be happy to get you exploring the Pacific Northwest.